Passing Yo-Yo test mandatory to be picked in Virat Kohli’s Team India
A player might make five successive centuries, claim an equal number of eight-wicket hauls but if he fails the Yo-Yo fitness test, he won’t be picked in the Indian team.
The Yo-Yo Test has been a part of the sporting world to test fitness of the athletes.
But then, some argue that they would not have survived the rigours of present-day cricket where endurance and speed are considered vital ingredients in a game that has become faster with lesser recovery time between matches.
What is yo-yo test?
What then is Yo-Yo. Simply put, it is endurance training that includes bursts of velocity; a variation of the beep method and a maximal running aerobatic fitness test.
The pace of the beep increases after every minute, so does the speed of the cricketers; those who do not make the line on time, will have to contend with more beeps. It’s a gruelling, exhausting experience.
“The captain, coach and chief selector, along with the other members of the selection committee in consultation with the support staff (trainer and physio), have set the parameters. The fitness parameters set by the team management for athletes to be eligible for selection are non-negotiable,” Johri told The Indian Express.
Benchmark score
The BCCI has set 16.1 as the benchmark score to clear Yo-Yo. Soon, we could have the bar raised to 17.5. In countries such as Australia, the mark is around 20.
People are arguing that players can swing games with the bat or the ball. They are too precious to be discarded.